Detection of HDV-RNA by PCR in serum of patients with chronic HDV infection.
In this paper, we studied the usefulness of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in HDV-RNA detection. Using serial dilutions of serum samples of known concentrations of HDV-RNA, PCR was 10,000-times more sensitive than slot-blot hybridization. PCR was used for the detection of HDV-RNA in 33 serum samples negative to HDV-RNA by conventional slot-blot hybridization. HDV-RNA was detected in 18/33 (54%) of the samples included in this study using PCR. When positivity to a viral genome was related to other viral replication markers, it was found that among the 18 patients positive to the viral genome, 13 (72%) had hepatitis delta antigen in the liver, and five (28%) were negative. In conclusion, HDV-RNA detection by gene amplification is 10,000-times more sensitive than slot-blot hybridization, and allows the detection of viral replication in patients without other viral replication markers.
Madejón
A
A
Department of Gastroenterology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
Castillo
I
I
Bartolomé
J
J
Melero
M
M
Campillo
M L
ML
Porres
J C
JC
Moreno
A
A
Carreño
V
V
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D005784:Gene Amplification / Q000235:genetics; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*
D012367:RNA, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase